The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-02-13
ore yALExz1NE.
The Day OF the Lampooner and the Love-
Sick Poet.


The Day OF the Lampooner and the Love-
Sick Poet.
Valentines Valentinesll yalentiDes!l
Once more the season of universal senti-
mentality and practical joking has made
it's appearance, and in honor of its visit all
the stationery and book stores on our bust
ness thoroughfare, and the dingy and
dirty candy stores on our side streets, have
become transformed into picture galleries
of more or less interest and beauty. This
season means much joyous hilarity to
some of our citizens, Tut to others it is a
period of Initiated feelings, which natu-
rally beget many unique and naughty cuss
words. Mans recognized tormentor, the
small boy, erins with ''ghoulish glee,' to
borrow an expression of Grover, as he
travels from window to window critically
examining the caricatures exposed for sale
at a penny or two cents each, in his en-
deavors to discover that which will best
convey his message of vengeance. The
much abused old maid no doubt turns pale
at the approach of the letter carrier, and
wishes that she was young once more or
some mans life partner. That innovation
upon society, commonly known as the
'sdude," which tumbled in upon our shores
SO unexpectedly some time since, and
which is accorded the privilege of waikiki g
our streets for the satisfaction of curiosity
seekers, suddenly becomes paralyzed in its
little knees so that they knock together,
and trembles in its economical trousers
whenever it approaches a valentine dis
playing faithful representative of itself
as others see it. Then there is suitable
n6va for kbo Ind AnOlO- A rao
can Jaekass, who makes idiotic endeayo rs
to initiate his English cousins in manners,
dress and speech. He too must feel the
point of the artists pencil to such an ex-
tent as to make him wonder why it is that
he endeavors to initiate everything Eng
lish and an EDglishman makes no attempt
to initiate anything American. In brief
the penny valentine shows no mercy to
any class, and those now seen in our stores
show up the ludierous side.of every occa-
patton in life with most crushing sarcasm
Even the letter carrier who is overburden-
ed with messages of love, fun and ven-
geanee is not exempt.
A visit to the stores on Newark
avenue showed that it costs only penny
and two cents for comic valentine to be
used in joke or in spirit of revenge; but
it will cost cooling youths and maidens all
the W4V ITOUl tuE0O Ccul6 W uLt00n uOlldIS
to express their tender feelings. These
that cost from three to fifteen cents are
.puch the same as have been sold for a
nl.mber of years past, and are designed
chiefly for little tots who are only learning
the cooling act; for twenty-five and fifty
cents blushing school children can buy
fairly good sized, though not elaborate
Ones containing gushing verses hidden I'M
der bunch of howers; for one, two and
three dollars medium sized silk, satin and
plush ones. enclosed in handsome cases,
can be purchased; then from five to fifteen
dollars can be purchased very elaborate
and ornamental valentines, many of which
display much artistic merit. On many of
these higher priced ones are beautiful
hand painted scenes, which make them
very valuable souvenirs.
So much for the sentimental valentines
which are for young and gushing people.
The reporter discovered others that we're
designed for people whose gushing days
have long since become things of the past.
The unfortunate married man is pictured
walking the floor with two screaming heirs
in his arms, while his wife, who is dressed
in her best toggery and tallest hat, is telling
him to be good "dear" while she makes a
tour of all the millinery stores to see the
latest styles in bonnets. But another
places the matter in different light. 1t
pictures the husband coming home from
the club at a. m as s'full as lord" his
high hat is thrown picturesquely on the
side of his head at an angie or 45 degrees,
and drunken leer oyersprsads his coun-
tenance, while his wife, who has been
watching and waiting for her tipsy lord,
does the crying act This is but retalia-
ton. Our overworked policemen are also
victims, being accused of s'never being on
haad when danger is near but it is be-
lleved the poet had the "sparrows" IN mind
when he wrote it. Public nuisances. like
the unclean tramps, the corner loafer, the
cigarette fend, the man swho knows 1t all,
bob-tail horse cars, railroad crossings and
unreliable sheets come in for goodly
share of eartooning, and no complimentary
criticism, which they richly deserve. The
reporter discovered only one class which
escaped the penny valentine artist and
poet-tha newspaper profession. In this
the artist showed his humane spirit, for
he must certainly be hard-hecrted who
would ridicule .he innocent, the modest.
the retiring editor or reporter. There is
one consolation-after tomorrow every
one can feel relieved for at least one year.